My new kilt out in the wild.

[carlb]

Last weekend was Irish Fest at Gaelic Park outside of Chicago. There were some Celtic-themed bands we like, so when the weather decided to cooperate on Monday we headed out to the *shudder* suburbs.

Headliners were Gaelic Storm, who put on a really good show (it was the first time I'd seen them live); I was really impressed with their musicianship. Sometimes a band you like disappoints live, but I guess a band that plays a lot of festivals would pretty much have to be good live, or nobody would come see them. And, I apologize for devolving to cave-man status for a moment, but their fiddle player is really hot! So attractive that, before I could say anything, my wife leaned over and said, "she's really hot!"

The band before them was The Sandcarvers, a Milwaukee-area band we've seen a few times. They're a lot of fun; I'd highly recommend them to X-Markers in the Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area.

Anyway, it seemed like a good enough reason to kilt up. Yeah, I know it was Irish Fest and not Scottish Fest, but we've only really got one Scottish festival around here each year, and I won't be able to make that one. Besides, I figured if one of the bands was The Tartan Terrors, I wouldn't be alone. TimeOut Chicago had a photographer walking around, and he snapped a picture that appeared on their web site:



I'm in my USAKilts semi-traditional in Rocky's German Heritage Tartan, and my wife is wearing a USAKilts PV Mini Kilt in Firefighters Memorial. I didn't consciously realize when I ordered them how similar the setts in the two tartans were; makes us an even better matched pair than we already are.

I got a lot of favorable comments that day. Rocky does good work. It helps that I know how to accessorize well.

[Galician]

Great shot, Carl. I really like that tartan.

Does the city of Chicago no longer hold Celtic Fest in Lincoln Park?

[carlb]

Great shot, Carl. I really like that tartan.

Does the city of Chicago no longer hold Celtic Fest in Lincoln Park?

Not that I'm aware of. Last year there was a Celtic Music Festival in Grant Park; this year there's just "Celtic Music Day" as part of Taste of Chicago.

[Mike_Oettle]

Carl, you and the missus make a great-looking couple with your similar kilts!
Makes me want to get a German Heritage!
Regards,
Mike

[Burly Brute]

Gaelic Storm is amazing, you are one lucky devil! Great pics too!

[Wulf Skjaldr]

Nice kilt there! And lucky you are to see Gaelic Storm live, something I haven't got a chance to do yet.

[Cherub]

Great that you got to see the Terrors. They are hard to find in the summer as they are usually booked for Ren Fests. But they are always a fun show.

I've seen them twice kilted and twice before I Got kilted.

Edit

Well that is odd, they do not appear to be attending any Ren Fests or have any Canadian shows this year or next....

[carlb]

Great that you got to see the Terrors. They are hard to find in the summer as they are usually booked for Ren Fests. But they are always a fun show.

I've seen them twice kilted and twice before I Got kilted.

Edit

Well that is odd, they do not appear to be attending any Ren Fests or have any Canadian shows this year or next....

Yeah, they were a lot of fun. My wife got her picture taken with a couple of the lads in the band, and loved how tiny they made her look between them.

[Whidbey78]

I haven't been to Chicago since boot camp at Great Lakes. Nice little town y'all have out there. Great people too. Looks like a good time!

[Galician]

Not that I'm aware of. Last year there was a Celtic Music Festival in Grant Park; this year there's just "Celtic Music Day" as part of Taste of Chicago.

Ah, right, Grant Park!

Sorry to hear. The last real one, I guess, was back in 2008, which wound up getting rained out by Hurricane Ike.